The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological recovery effects of olfactory, visual and olfactory–visual stimuli associated with garden plants. In a randomized controlled study design, ninety-five Chinese university students were randomly selected to be exposed to stimulus materials, namely the odor of Osmanthus fragrans and a corresponding panoramic image of a landscape featuring the plant. Physiological indexes were measured by the VISHEEW multiparameter biofeedback instrument and a NeuroSky EEG tester in a virtual simulation laboratory. The results showed the following: (1) In the olfactory stimulation group, from before to during exposure to the stimuli, the subjects’ diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (ΔDBP = 4.37 ± 1.69 mmHg, p < 0.05) and pulse pressure (PP) values increased (ΔPP = −4.56 ± 1.24 mmHg, p < 0.05), while their pulse (p) values decreased (ΔP = −2.34 ± 1.16 bmp, p < 0.05) significantly. When compared to the control group, only the amplitudes of α and β brainwaves increased significantly (Δα = 0.37 ± 2.09 µV, Δβ = 0.34 ± 1.01 µV, p < 0.05). (2) In the visual stimulation group, the amplitudes of skin conductance (SC) (ΔSC = 0.19 ± 0.01 µΩ, p < 0.05), α brainwaves (Δα = 6.2 ± 2.26 µV, p < 0.05) and β brainwaves (Δβ = 5.51 ± 1.7 µV, p < 0.05) all increased significantly relative to the control group. (3) In the olfactory–visual stimulus group, DBP (ΔDBP = 3.26 ± 0.45 mmHg, p < 0.05) values increased, and PP values decreased (ΔPP = −3.48 ± 0.33 bmp, p < 0.05) significantly from before to during exposure to the stimuli. The amplitudes of SC (ΔSC = 0.45 ± 0.34 µΩ, p < 0.05), α brainwaves (Δα = 2.28 ± 1.74 µV, p < 0.05) and β brainwaves (Δβ = 1.4 ± 0.52 µV, p < 0.05) all increased significantly relative to the control group. The results of this study show that the interaction of olfactory and visual stimuli associated with a garden plant odor landscape was able to relax and refresh the body to a certain extent, and this physiological health effect was greater with regards to the integrated response of the autonomic nervous system and central nervous system than the effect of only smelling or viewing the stimuli. In the planning and designing of plant smellscapes in garden green space, it should be ensured that plant odors and corresponding landscapes are present at the same time in order to ensure the best health effect.

The smellscape of garden plants plays a crucial role in promoting human well-being. Despite this, empirical data on the specific effects of distinct stimulation methods on public health remain insufficient. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of three distinct sensory modalities, olfactory, visual, and their combined effect, on both physiological and psychological reactions to a pine forest’s smellscape. A sample of 95 college students was selected, with data collected through both physiological and psychological measurements. The analysis focused on variables such as blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (P), pulse pressure (PP), skin conductance (SC), brainwave patterns (α, β), the odor emotion semantic differential (SD), and the State Anxiety Inventory (S-AI) scale. The results reveal that in the pine forest aroma environment, the central nervous system shows a compromise effect during olfactory–visual interaction, with greater autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation compared with either stimulus alone, suggesting cumulative effects. Psychologically, the influence of olfactory interaction on anxiety fell between that of visual and olfactory stimulation. Participants consistently reported that the combination of both the sight and scent of a pine forest was the most invigorating. Furthermore, research revealed that combining olfactory and visual stimuli led to a more profound amplification of positive environmental perceptions compared with when each sense was engaged individually. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding how garden plant aromas contribute to human well-being.

Traditional Chinese gardens are not only aesthetic representations but also spatial expressions of diverse aspects of social life. Compared with the extensive studies on Jiangnan gardens, the spatial organization and cultural meanings of private gardens in northern China remain relatively less explored. This study examines the East Courtyard of Wu Family Manor, a late Qing private garden in Guanzhong. Space Syntax is applied to quantitatively analyze its spatial configuration, while historical documents and field surveys are combined to explore the logic of its spatial organization and its relationship with merchant family practices and ritual concepts. The results reveal a clear spatial hierarchy within Wu Family Manor. The residential core occupies a relatively central position in the spatial configuration, and the garden functions as a complementary extension of domestic life. The spatial organization reflects a dual logic of hierarchical public order and inward-oriented family life, corresponding to the ritual principles and residential practices of merchant families. Compared with the landscape-oriented organization commonly observed in Jiangnan gardens, Wu Family Manor presents a different pattern of garden–residence integration, consistent with the characteristics of traditional northern garden residences. Methodologically, this study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating Space Syntax with historical and socio-cultural evidence to examine the spatial logic of traditional garden residences in northern China, thereby expanding its application to the study of traditional Chinese gardens. In practice, this finding indicates that conservation and adaptive reuse should consider not only individual buildings and gardens but also the spatial relationships and hierarchical structure underlying their organization. Clarifying the spatial organization logic of historic garden–residence complexes can provide additional evidence for interpreting and retaining their historical spatial character and regional identity, while also offering a reference for the conservation and renewal of similar traditional garden–residence sites in different historical and regional contexts.